In our last article, we talked about hair rebonding, what it is, its benefits, and how it’s done. What we didn’t talk about, however, is how there are many different types of rebonding being offered by various hair salons nowadays.

Indeed, with the popularity of hair rebonding comes all the new inventions and innovations in the hair and beauty industry. In today’s article, we’ll talk all about the different types of hair rebonding.

Straight rebonding

Straight rebonding is typically what most people imagine when they think of hair rebond. It’s one of the oldest types of hair rebonding, most popular a few decades ago. It uses the harshest, strongest chemicals to change the composition of hair, which means that it can straighten even the curliest, most unruly hair.

The biggest downside to this is how flat and dull the end result looks like for a lot of hair types. Ever seen stick straight hair from the early 2000s? They probably underwent this hair treatment before. That’s because the chemicals are much too strong, which is why the effect is so drastic.

If you have really thick or really curly strands that you want to get straightened, this is probably the best type of hair rebonding for you. However, if you have thin strands, or if you’ve got soft wavy hair, it’s best to avoid this one since the result may not be for your liking.

Volume rebonding

Volume rebonding is a newer, more natural-looking type of hair rebonding. True to its name, volume rebonding helps give your hair a lot more volume. This means no dull, stick straight strands. Your hair is guaranteed to look soft and manageable with this type of rebond.

Another benefit is that volume rebonding allows your hair to be tied without retaining its shape. So if you like perming the ends of your hair, you can do it even if the upper parts are volume rebonded. It will still look natural and not at all salon-made.

The biggest downside? Volume rebonding is a lot more expensive than traditional straight rebonding. Plus, if you have very thick or very curly hair, it may not work that well on you, since the chemicals used in this process are only strong enough to make already straight hair or wavy hair look smooth and sleek.

Soft rebonding

Soft rebonding is quite similar to volume rebonding in a way that they both use chemicals that aren’t as strong or harsh.

In addition to this, the process to achieve a soft rebond also requires less use of the flat iron, as compared to a traditional straight rebond. The flat iron is even set to a much lower temperature to prevent straightening your hair too much.

If you have thin hair, soft rebonding is a recommended treatment for you since it’s not as damaging as the other types of hair rebonding. Those with natural curls may also prefer a soft rebond, since it’s still possible to retain your natural curls with this process while cutting out all the frizz.
And that’s it for the different types of hair rebonding. For more hair articles, feel free to check out our ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 29TH NOVEMBER 2019

What Is Hair Rebonding?

So, you want to make your hair straight and shiny? There are many ways to do this. You can use a straightening iron after washing and drying your hair. You can use hair masks to add shine and improve smoothness. Or, you know, you can hit all birds with just one stone by getting a hair rebond.

But what exactly is hair rebonding? Before you undergo this drastic chemical hair treatment, make sure that you know exactly what you’re getting into first.

What is hair rebonding?

Hair rebonding is a chemical process that is done to make your hair look straight, shiny, and smooth. It involves breaking down the natural bonds of your hair with heat and chemicals. The bonds are then rearranged to fix any kinks and issues and bonded again once more, hence the term “rebond”.

Benefits of hair rebonding

Hair rebonding has plenty of benefits, especially if you’re looking for permanent results. Unlike other hair treatments that typically disappear after just a couple of washes, rebonded hair typically lasts for months. This means that if you’re tired of styling your hair every single day, then you’d probably be interested in getting your hair rebonded.

I’ve personally tried this treatment before and wow, the change is really amazing. I didn’t even have to comb my hair with a brush anymore in the morning since just finger-combing was enough. No matter how haggard or stressed I was in my day, and no matter how windy or hot it was, there was no frizz whatsoever, not a single hair out of place. My hair felt smooth, silky, and very soft.

Here’s a list of benefits in a nutshell:

straightens hair
makes hair shiny
improves smoothness
softens your strands
greatly improves manageability
eliminates all frizz

How does the hair rebonding process go

The biggest downside to getting your hair rebonded is the time it takes to complete. Of course, it mostly depends on the length of your hair, but it’s rare to hear of treatments that take less than 4 hours to complete.

There are three main steps to hair rebonding. The first step consists of breaking down the bonds of your hair. The second step makes use of heat in order to rearrange the bonds and make your strands straighter. Lastly, the third step requires the use of a neutralizer in order to recreate the bonds that were broken and rearranged in the first and second steps.

Interestingly, you can actually perform a hair rebond by yourself using your own tools and a home hair rebond set, though it’s not recommended by experts. Nevertheless, here are the steps. Take note that whether you have it done at home or in a salon, the steps to hair rebonding are the same.

Wash your hair to ensure that it’s clean. Don’t use conditioner.
Divide your hair into sections. Use the strong straightening lotion, typically called a relaxant, from your hair rebond set and apply it to your hair evenly. This step is very important. If you miss a spot, it’s not going to turn out straight. You wouldn’t want a single curly patch, would you?
Leave the relaxant on for about 30-45 minutes. For the exact number, look at the numbers on the hair rebond set. Be warned that leaving it on for too long could damage your hair, so be careful about the time.
Steam the hair for 10-30 minutes to lock the solution in.
Wash your hair thoroughly and dry it off.
Apply the keratin lotion. With the lotion still on your strands, straighten your hair with a flat iron.
Apply the neutralizer evenly by section. This process is what ‘rebonds’ your hair once more. Leave on for 30 minutes.
Wash hair thoroughly with cold water.
Blow-dry hair and then apply hair serum.
Use a flat iron to straighten hair once more before finishing up.

Obviously, these steps are easier than done, which is why many people prefer going to salons instead. The main reason why some opt to do it at home is because the whole process could take up to 8 hours, and honestly, who likes staying at a salon for 8 hours?

This is the first of our series about hair rebonding. Make sure you stay tuned for the next part!
For more hair articles, don’t forget to check out our ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 27TH NOVEMBER 2019

Mythbusters: Is Gelatin Good For Hair?

Soft, squishy, and quite delicious when cooked. These are some of the words that can describe gelatin. You know, the same ingredient that your gummy bears are made of. but what you don’t know is some people actually use gelatin for their hair. Yes, gelatin.

This may seem like a weird choice for natural hair care, but we’re not one to instantly dismiss things, are we? So in today’s ZALA Mythbusters, we’ll see if the rumors are true: is gelatin good for hair?

What is gelatin?

Gelatin is a product that comes from cooking collagen, a type of natural protein.

Perhaps you’ve heard of it before, and honestly, that’s no surprise. These days, the beauty industry has been pushing collagen for anti-aging and other beauty properties. Actually, collagen can be naturally found in both humans and animals. Various parts of the body, such as bones, ligaments, and skin, contain collagen.

When this collagen is cooked in boiling water, it turns into what will eventually become gelatin. In this form, gelatin has no color or flavor. You can dissolve it using warm water to add whatever ingredients you need for your recipe, and then cool it in the fridge so that it can take on its usual jelly-like form.

Effects of gelatin on hair

Gelatin consists almost entirely of protein, the same thing that your hair is made of. It also has a lot of unique amino acids that are proven to assist in repairing and restoring your hair, skin, and nails. This is why there are many scientific studies out there that aim to explore the positive effects of gelatin.

In one study, researchers had 106 women to eat either a placebo, or 10 grams of fish and pork collagen, where gelatin comes from before it is cooked. Those who actually took collagen showed a 28% increase in skin moisture and a 12% increase in hair moisture, after just eight weeks of adding it into their diets. Meanwhile, the placebo group didn’t experience such effects.

In another study, researchers gave a gelatin supplement to one group and a placebo to the other group, to be taken over the course of 50 weeks. The participants all suffered from alopecia, a disorder that causes partial or total hair loss. The results were incredible. The gelatin group’s hair growth was measured at 29% in 50 weeks, compared to just 10% for the placebo group. The gelatin group’s hair mass also increased by 40%, while the placebo group experienced a decrease of 10%. This isn’t to say that gelatin can combat alopecia, but it does seem to help with the hair loss.

Lastly, one study had researchers giving participants 14 grams of gelatin each day. After the duration of the study, the participants who ate gelatin daily experienced an average increase of 11% hair thickness.

Using gelatin for hair care

There are two ways to use gelatin for hair care.

Obviously, the first one consists of actually eating the gelatin. The second one is to incorporate it in your DIY hair treatments, which is pretty easy since gelatin is dissolvable in warm water. Plus, these days you can even get powdered gelatin, which makes the process even easier.

All you need is a pack of powdered gelatin, milk, and some conditioner. First, warm up the milk, then add in the gelatin. Let it sit for 15 minutes, then add in the conditioner. The resulting mixture should look like a gel, which you will then apply to your hair. You can put your hair in a shower cap to seal in the mixture and let your hair absorb everything. Leave it on for 30-40 minutes. Afterward, wash hair thoroughly with shampoo and dry. Repeat this at least once a week and if you’re lucky, you’ll see the results in just a few weeks!

Is gelatin good for hair?

Surprisingly, it’s not just a myth. Gelatin can actually be good for your hair, especially if you eat it. Hard to imagine that such a flavorless and colorless ingredient could be used in so many ways, huh?
For more ZALA Mythbusters, don’t forget to check out our blog!

PUBLISHED 25TH NOVEMBER 2019

Mythbusters: Is Banana Good For Hair?

Do you like bananas? Did you know that you can use them to make your hair look better and more gorgeous than ever before?

In today’s ZALA Mythbusters, we’ll explore the answer to the question: is banana good for hair?

History of Banana for Hair

Nobody knows the exact timeline when people first started using banana for hair. As a trend, it first boomed in the late October 2008, steadily growing over time. It’s also worth noting that there are companies that have incorporated the fruit as an ingredient in their hair products throughout the years.

One popular company in particular is French-owned Garnier, who released a fruit extract line of 1-minute hair masks. The line includes banana extract hair mask. Brazilian-owned The Body Shop also carries several banana hair products, such as banana shampoo, banana conditioner, and banana hair mask.

Benefits of Banana for Hair

Since fruits are generally very nutritious by themselves, it’s not a surprise that bananas have plenty of benefits for the hair.

Here are just some banana benefits for your crowning glory:

rich in potassium, vitamins, and natural oils
moisturizes the scalp
promotes hair elasticity
makes hair shinier and more manageable
prevents dandruff
protects against split ends and hair breakage
repairs sun-damaged hair
smoothes frizzy hair

The natural oils are especially helpful, as your hair really needs them in order to maintain their natural shine and luster. The natural oils in bananas can also help you avoid frizzy hair.

How to Use Banana for Hair

While you can just eat the banana and gain its benefits–albeit slowly–that way, there are many anecdotes that suggest that topical application works just as well, if not better.

DIY Banana Hair Paste

If you’ve got dandruff or are suffering from a dry scalp, you’ll benefit greatly from this DIY banana hair paste. Bananas are moisturizing and contain plenty of vitamins, while honey is known to be rich in antioxidants that can help speed up healing for dry skin.

What you need:

Banana
Honey

Steps:

Chop the banana before mashing it into a bowl. You can simply use a spoon or a fork until it takes on a smooth texture and consistency.
Add a few drops of honey to the mix.
Spread the paste onto your hair and leave for 10 minutes.
Wash your hair thoroughly.

DIY Banana Hair Mask

Wanna get smooth, sleek, and well-nourished hair? This DIY hair mask is perfect for the job. In addition to bananas’ moisturizing properties, you will also benefit from olive oil’s smoothing properties and eggs’ ability to make your hair shinier.

What you need:

Banana
Olive Oil
Egg

Steps:

Add mashed bananas, a few drops of olive oil, and one egg into a bowl.
Mix all three ingredients until smooth.
Apply the mask to your hair, making sure to add more on your scalp and ends.
Leave on for 15 minutes.
Wash thoroughly with lukewarm water, followed by cold water to lock it in.

Is Banana Good For Hair?

As you can see, bananas have a lot of benefits for hair. This includes smoothing, moisturizing, healing, and restoring your hair to its naturally beautiful look. Definitely not a myth!

For more mythbusters articles, check out this link.

And for more hair tips and tricks, don’t forget to drop by our ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 13TH NOVEMBER 2019

Is Yogurt Good For Hair?

We’ve always loved yogurt as a healthy snack, but not a lot of people are aware that yogurt actually has a long history of being used to make hair look better and shinier. Whether or not it works, however, is another topic.

In today’s ZALA Mythbusters, we’ll determine the answer to the question: is yogurt good for hair?

History of Yogurt for Hair

There’s no denying that yogurt is as healthy as dairy could be for our bodies. But aside from its benefits to our gut and overall health, yogurt is also said to be able to improve our hair’s condition in a snap.

One brand has taken this one step further with Project Beauty Hairgurt, a line of smoothing all-natural, cruelty-free hair products that make sure of yogurt as the main ingredient. It consists of shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks. Customers can even pick from different flavors such as almond honey and strawberry banana, and coconut acai.

Based on reviews, Hairgurt seems to be working. According to the customers themselves, the product seems to have been able to improve their hair’s condition, to some extent.

Benefits of Yogurt

Here are some of the supposed benefits of yogurt for your locks.

1. natural conditioner

As a natural conditioner, yogurt can help maintain your hair’s natural shine and texture.

2. rich in vitamins and nutrients

Yogurt is especially abundant in lactic acid, which can do wonders for dull and limp hair. Lactic acid can relax your strands and therefore make your hair look and feel much smoother.

3. reduce hair fall

Yogurt can strengthen your hair strands, therefore preventing hair damage and breakages. The fatty acids have one other benefit: they can reduce hair fall.

4. treat dandruff

Did you know that yogurt has anti-inflammatory properties? That’s why it’s so good at instantly healing skin issues, plus it’s good for all hair types too. Say bye-bye to all those nasty flakes by rubbing some yogurt on your scalp.

DIY Yogurt Hair Treatment

Yogurt Hair Mask

This is a repairing hair mask that could overturn your dry and damaged hair. All the vitamins in the yogurt will work together with the eggs in order to make sure that your strands become more beautiful than ever!

What you need:

half cup plain yogurt
two egg whites

Steps:

mix the two ingredients together in a bowl
make sure that there are no lumpy sections
add to your strands and leave on for at least 30 minutes
rinse with cold water

Yogurt Smoothening Pack

Does your hair seem super frizzy and unmanageable recently? You might want to try out this DIY yogurt hair treatment.

What you need:

half cup of yogurt
two tbsp of honey
two tbsp of olive oil

Steps:

mix all ingredients together in a bowl
let the mixture sit in the fridge for a few minutes
take out and apply cold mixture directly to strands
leave on for at least 30 minutes
rinse with cold water

Downsides of Yogurt

Nothing’s perfect, so it’s only understandable if using yogurt for hair has some downsides too.

1. greasier scalp

Some have reported that using yogurt on their scalps have only made things worse. One example is by making the scalp even greasier than before.

2. allergic reactions

Some people do have allergies to yogurt. In case you’re not sure, it’s better to do a patch test first before applying the mixture to your entire scalp. If your skin reacts negatively, remember to wash it off immediately.

3. bad odor

Yogurt is dairy, so what can you expect? Dairy rarely lasts long, especially if the weather is hot and humid. There’s really no way around this one.

Conclusion

It seems like yogurt’s benefits for hair may actually be real and not just a myth.

That said, there’s a difference between using yogurt as an ingredient in a hair product and using yogurt as is. Be careful before trying out anything and make sure to always do a patch test first.

For more ZALA Mythbusters, check out our blog here!

PUBLISHED 3RD NOVEMBER 2019

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